Cross neutralization of Bothrops jararacussu venom by heterologous antivenoms.

We have studied the immunochemical cross-reactivity and cross-neutralizatio n of the lethal potency, hemorrhagic, necrotizing, procoagulant and (indire ct) hemolytic activities of Bothrops jararacussu venom by the standard anti venoms produced in Argentina. These antivenoms are horse immunoglobulin F ( ab')(2) fragments from animals immunized with 1) Crotalus durissus terrific us venom (Monovalent Anticrotalic antivenom); 2) Bothrops alternatus and B. neuwiedii venoms (Bivalent Botropic antivenom); 3) B. alternatus, B. neuwi edii; B, jararaca and 8, jararacussu venoms (Tetravalent Bothropic, or "Mis iones" antivenom) and 4) B. alternatus, B. neuwiedii and C. d. terrificus v enoms (Trivalent Botropic-Crotalic antivenom). In preincubation experiments , all the heterologous antivenoms neutralized the toxic and biological acti vities of B. jararacussu venom with a potency at least as high as the Tetra valent Botropic (i.e. the only homologous) antivenom, in which B. jararacus su venom was included as immunogen. These results suggest the possibility o f using heterologous antibothropic antivenoms for the treatment of snake bi tes by B. jararacussu.